Camino Litter-Picks: do they ever happen?

[DomPhilip]

Greetings!

I was on my way, striding down the French Road, not so long ago. My attention turned to the litter, the garbage, that is scattered along the edge of the path, or bordering the carretera. Not just pilgrims' detritus, but just trash thrown, presumably, out of passing vehicles. And of course the tissues and toilet paper in secluded spots.

People often talk about giving something back. I wondered, as I walked: what about a camino litter-pick, undertaken by veteran pilgrims?

In case that's a British colloquialism, litter-pick, I mean of course a group of volunteers who go out armed with spatulas and trash-bags with the intention of spearing and collecting litter (garbage). Such endeavours are quite common in Britain. The American humorist David Sedaris is famous for his peregrinations, up and down country lanes, collecting other people's crap.

What about a litter-pick, I thought. Get some folks together and walk the path, or parts of it - do some stretches attract more rubbish than others? - and gather up all the old cans and packets, and the soiled loo paper, and bag it up. Could we do that? Could we get suitable bags from the local authority?

But then I thought, maybe this already happens? Does it? Is there already such an initiative amongst peregrinos? Do local people go out in parties, perhaps during the off-season, and scoop up all our travellers' filth? And would it, could it be, conceived, in these sensitive times, as an imposition or an affront? Would there be any danger of someone in the municipality getting annoyed at a bunch of estranjeros bagging-up along the highway?

What do others think about this? Are there a group garbage-gathering parties already? Does the idea have merit otherwise? Let me know.

 

[kelleymac]

My son and I walked in 2015 and as we wanted our BSA Scouting 50 Miler Scouting Award. We needed to have a minimum of 10 hours of service time so we picked up trash every day for about a half hour and then took it to the next public trash bin. The camino would be cleaned up pretty quickly if we all did that.
Buen Camino--

 

[SabsP]

Greetings!

I was on my way, striding down the French Road, not so long ago. My attention turned to the litter, the garbage, that is scattered along the edge of the path, or bordering the carretera. Not just pilgrims' detritus, but just trash thrown, presumably, out of passing vehicles. And of course the tissues and toilet paper in secluded spots.

People often talk about giving something back. I wondered, as I walked: what about a camino litter-pick, undertaken by veteran pilgrims?

In case that's a British colloquialism, litter-pick, I mean of course a group of volunteers who go out armed with spatulas and trash-bags with the intention of spearing and collecting litter (garbage). Such endeavours are quite common in Britain. The American humorist David Sedaris is famous for his peregrinations, up and down country lanes, collecting other people's crap.

What about a litter-pick, I thought. Get some folks together and walk the path, or parts of it - do some stretches attract more rubbish than others? - and gather up all the old cans and packets, and the soiled loo paper, and bag it up. Could we do that? Could we get suitable bags from the local authority?

But then I thought, maybe this already happens? Does it? Is there already such an initiative amongst peregrinos? Do local people go out in parties, perhaps during the off-season, and scoop up all our travellers' filth? And would it, could it be, conceived, in these sensitive times, as an imposition or an affront? Would there be any danger of someone in the municipality getting annoyed at a bunch of estranjeros bagging-up along the highway?

What do others think about this? Are there a group garbage-gathering parties already? Does the idea have merit otherwise? Let me know.

Yes it already happens.
Some forummembers are involved in the Ditch Pigs.
More info here.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/ditch-pigs-2023-la-rioja.84049/

 

[Tincatinker]

Greetings!

I was on my way, striding down the French Road, not so long ago. My attention turned to the litter, the garbage, that is scattered along the edge of the path, or bordering the carretera. Not just pilgrims' detritus, but just trash thrown, presumably, out of passing vehicles. And of course the tissues and toilet paper in secluded spots.

People often talk about giving something back. I wondered, as I walked: what about a camino litter-pick, undertaken by veteran pilgrims?

In case that's a British colloquialism, litter-pick, I mean of course a group of volunteers who go out armed with spatulas and trash-bags with the intention of spearing and collecting litter (garbage). Such endeavours are quite common in Britain. The American humorist David Sedaris is famous for his peregrinations, up and down country lanes, collecting other people's crap.

What about a litter-pick, I thought. Get some folks together and walk the path, or parts of it - do some stretches attract more rubbish than others? - and gather up all the old cans and packets, and the soiled loo paper, and bag it up. Could we do that? Could we get suitable bags from the local authority?

But then I thought, maybe this already happens? Does it? Is there already such an initiative amongst peregrinos? Do local people go out in parties, perhaps during the off-season, and scoop up all our travellers' filth? And would it, could it be, conceived, in these sensitive times, as an imposition or an affront? Would there be any danger of someone in the municipality getting annoyed at a bunch of estranjeros bagging-up along the highway?

What do others think about this? Are there a group garbage-gathering parties already? Does the idea have merit otherwise? Let me know.

Search “Ditch Pigs” on the forum. Much will be revealed

 

[wisepilgrim]

Tagging @Rebekah Scott so she can tell you about the approaching adventure.

 

[naplesdon]

Ditch Piggery, been there, done that! It is a very rewarding weekend at the end of November working out of Moratinos. I also spent most of my days while volunteering at San Anton walking between Hontanos and Castrojeriz picking up litter. It just takes a small plastic shopping bag and some latex gloves, rather than complain about the trash; you can do it, too!

 

[AnaRosario]

Greetings!

I was on my way, striding down the French Road, not so long ago. My attention turned to the litter, the garbage, that is scattered along the edge of the path, or bordering the carretera. Not just pilgrims' detritus, but just trash thrown, presumably, out of passing vehicles. And of course the tissues and toilet paper in secluded spots.

People often talk about giving something back. I wondered, as I walked: what about a camino litter-pick, undertaken by veteran pilgrims?

In case that's a British colloquialism, litter-pick, I mean of course a group of volunteers who go out armed with spatulas and trash-bags with the intention of spearing and collecting litter (garbage). Such endeavours are quite common in Britain. The American humorist David Sedaris is famous for his peregrinations, up and down country lanes, collecting other people's crap.

What about a litter-pick, I thought. Get some folks together and walk the path, or parts of it - do some stretches attract more rubbish than others? - and gather up all the old cans and packets, and the soiled loo paper, and bag it up. Could we do that? Could we get suitable bags from the local authority?

But then I thought, maybe this already happens? Does it? Is there already such an initiative amongst peregrinos? Do local people go out in parties, perhaps during the off-season, and scoop up all our travellers' filth? And would it, could it be, conceived, in these sensitive times, as an imposition or an affront? Would there be any danger of someone in the municipality getting annoyed at a bunch of estranjeros bagging-up along the highway?

What do others think about this? Are there a group garbage-gathering parties already? Does the idea have merit otherwise? Let me know.

Support Camino Cleanup | Camino Chronicles Press

www.caminochroniclespress.com

 

[bullingtonce]

Greetings!

I was on my way, striding down the French Road, not so long ago. My attention turned to the litter, the garbage, that is scattered along the edge of the path, or bordering the carretera. Not just pilgrims' detritus, but just trash thrown, presumably, out of passing vehicles. And of course the tissues and toilet paper in secluded spots.

People often talk about giving something back. I wondered, as I walked: what about a camino litter-pick, undertaken by veteran pilgrims?

In case that's a British colloquialism, litter-pick, I mean of course a group of volunteers who go out armed with spatulas and trash-bags with the intention of spearing and collecting litter (garbage). Such endeavours are quite common in Britain. The American humorist David Sedaris is famous for his peregrinations, up and down country lanes, collecting other people's crap.

What about a litter-pick, I thought. Get some folks together and walk the path, or parts of it - do some stretches attract more rubbish than others? - and gather up all the old cans and packets, and the soiled loo paper, and bag it up. Could we do that? Could we get suitable bags from the local authority?

But then I thought, maybe this already happens? Does it? Is there already such an initiative amongst peregrinos? Do local people go out in parties, perhaps during the off-season, and scoop up all our travellers' filth? And would it, could it be, conceived, in these sensitive times, as an imposition or an affront? Would there be any danger of someone in the municipality getting annoyed at a bunch of estranjeros bagging-up along the highway?

What do others think about this? Are there a group garbage-gathering parties already? Does the idea have merit otherwise? Let me know.

You can also pick up some when you walk the Camino, not a lot of course, but each piece matters. And, an added bonus, some other pilgrims will see and notice this and perhaps two our of hundred will do the same. You are making it contagious. Chuck

 

[DomPhilip]

My son and I walked in 2015 and as we wanted our BSA Scouting 50 Miler Scouting Award. We needed to have a minimum of 10 hours of service time so we picked up trash every day for about a half hour and then took it to the next public trash bin. The camino would be cleaned up pretty quickly if we all did that.
Buen Camino--

I like the sound of that.

 

[gollygolly]

Take a plastic bag with you as you walk along into which you can place any retrieved rubbish into. As you pass any large rubbish container, empty the bag, and continue on your way with the bag. Repeat. Repeat.

There are various initiatives for pilgrims to pick up rubbish. The image shows a bag that I have recently been given on the Camino Caravaca fe la Cruz… This will now be my permanent bag for when picking up rubbish.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

@DomPhilip, good on you for raising the question. The more people that talk about issues like this the more likely people are to take notice. Let alone do something!

It's sad that Ditch pigs and similar initiatives are required but as you've rightly pointed out they're not just necessary in Spain.

As others have commented above I always have a plastic bag in one of my side pockets; whilst I don't attempt to pick up everything I certainly grab any plastic rubbish I come across, and tip it out at the next receptacle.
Actually I do that at home too, as I said, sadly it's required everywhere.

 

[Wooz]

Picked up trash in my own neighborhood while training, continued the habit on the Camino. I heard Karin Kiser on Dan Mullins' podcast. She's leading a cleanup and retreat in May and June of 2025

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Ditch Pigs will roll again in late November. We are already fully subscribed!

 

[VNwalking]

Ditch Pigs will roll again in late November. We are already fully subscribed!

And fully supported, I hope! If not, please let us know.

 

[naplesdon]

The ditch pigs are at it this week. They started in Larrasoana and went to Puente la Reina in the rain and cold

 

[Rebekah Scott]

It was a long 3 days, the litter was surprisingly light in Navaŕra -- or maybe the typhoon on Day 1 blew it all into France before we got there. In our 17 years of picking we have cleaned the Frances from Roncesvalles to Astorga, the Portuguese from Oporto to Tui, and the Madrid from Medina Rioseco to Sahagun. This Forum has been an invaluable support throughout!